10/12/25 Through 10/18/25

 10/12/25 Through 10/18/25

Sunday

In every gift we find Your good

When even far away we stood

The grateful heart is close to You

But grateful hearts are far too few.

We want the pleasure, not the pain

We value only earthly gain

But trial comes from You as gift

For all Your humble ones to sift.

It's when we recognize our King

And to His perfect will we cling

We see the good in trials, too

And let them draw us near to You

But only humble see this way

And find the grace to even pray

To share more suffering and pain

To so, more souls for Jesus, gain.

Monday

What sign would be enough for thee?

What mighty pow'r could make you see

That God is God, and man is not

And Truth is not in lies you've bought?

God placed in every man a light,

A guiding star throughout the night

So each could know the good and true

And raeson be that guide for you.

But pride is like a shade that blocks

That cunning serpent, like a fox

It let's the truth just halfway in

And justifies most any sin.

A reasoned search for truth will show

The errors of this way to go

But truth deniers close their eyes

And hold on to their wicked lies.

So, we must pray that the shade be drawn

For all the lies they've counted on

Then, with the Light from Light revealed

Their reasoning, at last, be healed

Tuesday

The ritual of washing seems

A bit akin to nightly dreams

A worthless role, if that within

Remains a place of filthy sin.

The role without must show within

A separation from our sin

A washing all the filth away

To clear our path along the way.

Wednesday

You've given man a brain to use

To see the many diff'rent views

And reason so to help him choose

The right and then the wrong refuse.

Our faith is proven by our works

But closely by a decoy lurks

To make us think that faith alone

Is all we need to sin atone.

Our works are evidence of grace

That takes us to a higher place

Without the grace to serve the poor

So many seize the deadly lure.

The word is clear as given man

But some prefer another plan

A plan for only one-time saved

Allowing them to stay depraved.

Repentance must be every day

And not just once along the way

Each day we must be turned to Him

And turned away from sordid sin

It's why the Sacraments He gave

To give us strength and make us brave

Enough to share His work below

To someday Him in Heaven know.

Thursday

The empty works within the Law

Are those which Jesus clearly saw

Such emptiness has no avail

And those who practice them shall fail

Our need goes far beyond such bling

We need a true and righteous thing

To lead us in the way of grace

And so to find our dwelling place

The gift of faith we now can see

Is that which leads near to Thee

Not empty works of ritual

But kindness made habitual

Friday

Fear not if you have faith to save

This gift, the docile ones, He gave

For hypocrites don't heed the word

They fail to act on what they've heard

They know what's true and for their good

But fail to act the way they should

Their secrets, though, shall be revealed

And then their hopeless fate be sealed

Don't fear the ones who flesh abuse

For in the end, it's they who lose

The Judgment Day will come at last

With them into the fire cast

The good He saves through faith and deed

For they have watered well the seed

And acted on each word He said

So them, He raises from the dead

Saturday

Dear Luke described the church at home

Where children not astray would roam

Where they were shown a guiding light

With friends to join them in the fight

No cult, but calling in the Lord

Where grace could daily be outpoured

Where holiness was found the key

To what each one was meant to be.

Here, many look but say, It's hard

To be as such a faithful guard

Too many pleasures sacrificed

This way of life is too high-priced

In Acts, he showed how well it worked

But also where the pitfalls lurked

For all must willingly we give

If in community we live

Oh What a Favor to be with My Lord

 Oh, What a Favor to be with My Lord

Oh, what a favor to be with my Lord

With graces and blessings abundant outpoured

A peace in His presence beyond of compare

Harmonious blending of beauty so rare

Transcendence of all that the senses can know

A warming within to make the heart glow

Appearance of bread in a golden array

Magnetic attraction that calls me to stay

He prompts me in ways that are hard to define

But I know when He offers a word that is mine

He strikes at a chord that trembles within

A call to some action, or stripping of sin.

My heart lies wide open in front of the King

But healing and strength to my weakness He'll bring

He shows me with love what my failings have done

But shows me as well what my Savior has won.

A peace that the world can't possibly give

A way to forever in harmony live

Come see what I've found in this small, little place,

An abundance of mercy and power and grace.

You, too, can receive a word from the King

If only a docile spirit you bring

Just wait in His presence for what He will say,

Then make up your mind to promptly obey.

The more you say, Yes, the more you will hear

For when you obey, you are drawing more near

Come give it a try, you'll be glad that you did

All truth is revealed when nothing is hid.

10/5/25 Through 10/11/25

 10/5/25 Through 10/11/25

Sunday

Fan into flame the gift that He gave

Wake up within you the power to save

Use what was given by water that day

And strengthen, by faith, every word that you say

The truth lies before you as sure as can be

Take courage and know what today you can't see.

Believe and be confident, knowing who wins

Repent and receive the forgiveness of sins.

Harden not your hearts today, be open to receive

The Mighty One is here today that all may now believe.

A mustard seed is all you need to take this sturdy tree

From here within this solid ground, and cast it to the sea.

Be the servant, good and true, who follows each command

The one who does without delay all that the Father planned

Your faith must be your guiding light in everything you do

Go forward in the darkest night, and know His word is true.

Monday

Don't let me run away from You

But face the fact today

Your word, I must be free to do

And all, I must obey.

To do Your will shall calm the storm

And many shall return

Our duty is to all inform

So, truth, the masses learn.

Tuesday

One day of doing as He said

And many followed where he led.

Repentance changed their hearts of stone

To hearts that live for God alone.

He needs but willing souls who do

The things He asks of them to do

What may seem far beyond our skill

He does for those who do His will

To flesh, the heart of stone is turned

Obedience by many learned

They learn to hear His voice in lieu

Of fretting over things to do

It all amounts to this, I say

Just listen up, and then obey.

Attune your ear to hear His word

Then act on everything you've heard.

Not one is favored over you

He speaks to all, not just a few.

But those who act on what they hear

He more and more, will draw them near.

Don't be afraid to ask the way,

But listen well and then obey.

For those who ask and who believe

To those, He gives and they receive.

Wednesday

Our Father, I'm selfish and tired of pain

No sleep is a heavy, unbearable chain.

I try to be holy and bear it like You

But find only weakness and failing in view.

Improvement is coming, I pray every day

But small are the steps that I take on the way

I want to move faster, I have much to do

My soul is one restless, not patient, like You.

I need an infusion of holiness now

A way, to my soul, with some patience endow.

My worry is that I should waste all the pain

Without ever finding some spiritual gain.

Thursday

Lord, all You have given is meant for my good

Help me respond in the way that I should.

Unpleasant and painful, I seek to avoid

Instead of one loving, I just get annoyed.

But You know what's best in each time and each place

Along with each trial, You send me Your grace.

I look for a life always going my way,

But then, in the good times, I often don't pray.

Somehow, I can feel I deserve such a life

When Yours was but filled with all struggle and strife.

I need much more giving of self to declare

I have any right that You answer my prayer.

But loving and merciful, You enter in

To make me aware of my everyday sin

Then, seeing how little I truly deserve

I see how the poor and the lowly You serve.

Help me to see and to act as You do

Sacrificing myself to become more like You.

One loving in spite of annoyance and pain

Always seeking to add to eternal gain.

The rich seem to prosper, but only a while

The offers of Earth only serve to beguile

For wealth everlasting, no riches can buy

Comes after this world and dazzles the eye.

The riches of love, freely giving away

Whatever is needed for all men to say,

"I have an abundance of wealth from above,

He's taught me to listen and learn how to love."

Friday

Judgment is coming quite quickly, they say

I've waited this long, so what's one more day?

How foolish the one who reacts in this way

Tomorrow is coming, but what of today?

With justice, He judges, the wicked destroyed

But what of those who, with repentance, just toyed?

The ones who were waiting for this or for that

Who looked at their sins as no more than a gnat.

When they see perfection in light of the day

They'll look at their sins in a much different way.

With clarity, seeing the pathway they chose,

Runs not to the light, but to darkness it goes.

Repent while there's time, delay it no more

Or wailing and gnashing is what lies in store.

Be humble and pray for His mercy to win

There's no other way to be free of our sin.

Saturday

Blessed are those who simply obey

Who order their lives on all that You say.

Their lives are in harmony, notes of a song

Loving and giving and suffering long.

Judgment is coming; it's not far away

Decisions we make will determine our way

To desert or garden, we each have been turned

By whom we've obeyed and what we have learned

The call to all beauty is sounding each day

Beckoning, drawing, and showing the way

But eyes are so focused on temporal gain

Shying away from the least little pain.

No value is placed on the heavenly things

The fleeting is valued for pleasure it brings.

All pleasure is passing, but joy will endure

The flash is exciting, but beauty, demure.

Be wise with a vision that sees far away

Seek beauty and truth in a diligent way

Let goodness be guide every moment of day

Be open to hear, and then simply obey.

9/28/25 Through 10/4/25

9/28/25 Through 10/4/25

Sunday

How poor the pen when faced today

With what the scripture has to say

For wealth and comfort, I've pursued

And now, could final rest elude?

The rich is me who turned away

From many poor along the way

Help me, Lord, with eye that sees

A Lazarus in each of these.

Lord, turn my heart toward those in need

Who, for a crust or morsel, plead

Make me one generous and kind

That someday home with You I find.

Monday

When seeing as the angels see

How vast the scope of truth must be

Their eyes can see the distant stars

And meaning of these dreams of ours

They stand before the Lord in praise

And endless holy anthems raise

His will, their joy, and pure delight

His word their sword, and grace their might.

His messengers to Earth below

Bring truth and wisdom, we must know

They heal the wounds that hold us down

And fight the battles raging 'round.

They give a glimpse of glory nigh

And of the life with Him on high

That perfect unity with Love

Awaiting in our home above.

Tuesday

Once set and resolutely turned

Quite many faithful people learned

That so, a test of will begins

And Satan magnifies our sins.

Those close to us may turn away

And ridicule our need to pray

Or try to find some way to show

Our faith a worthless thing to know

But if we simply toe the line

And hearken to the word of Thine

The day will come when others see

How good it is to faithful be.

Then holding on to what you say

Both men from near and far away

Will ask to come along and find

Your God so truthful, good, and kind.

Wednesday

How easily the words can flow

Of how I love the Lord

But when the time is nigh to go

I strike another chord.

My faith is great, resolve is strong

Until I see the cost

Then, in the fear of what seems wrong

My resolution's lost.

I've turned away too many times

And chose a wider way

By searching just for pithy rhymes,

Ignoring what You say.

I know I'm weak and must repent

Then follow where You trod

For all disciples You have sent

And You are Lord and God.

So, give me strength, again I cry

In weakness, You are strong

I see, on You, I must rely

For strength to suffer long.

Don't let me falter anymore

By turning to the chaff

I want no more, what You abhor

But seek my Shepherd's staff.

Thursday

My guardian angel, companion so dear

You're always around, and you're always quite near

While leading and guiding me, showing the way

You prompt me to listen and then to obey.

You're there when I call on the Wisdom of God

You're there when the pathway is rough that I trod.

My helper in times of distress and in pain

The one always focused on eternal gain.

Defender from evil that seeks to destroy

The one that, more often, I need to employ.

The light for the scriptures I ponder each morn

Assigned by the Father before I was born.

What glory is given to creatures so high

Perfection reflected when e'er they pass by.

They gaze on the face of the Father each day

Then show to their charges just how they should pray.

This gift of the Father, a creature sublime

This mentor, protector, and teacher of mine

So powerful, mighty, yet humble is he

To take such a task as the guiding of me.

Friday

Oh Lord, how sin has gripped our land

So many sins as grains of sand

We've turned away from truth to lies

And now we see what evil buys.

Each one assumes their sin too small

To make a difference overall

We think that each can make their truth

And so, we fail to train the youth.

Repentance is the only way

To solve the problems of our day

Oh Lord, grant light for all to see

How far we've strayed away from Thee

Let hearts be filled with true remorse

So You can change our downward course

Our sins make clear to us each day

Then help us choose the narrow way

Your sacramental grace received

And we no longer are deceived

If we confess our sins aloud

No longer sinful, bold, and proud.

Repentant souls, contrite, ashamed

By love, our wicked passions tamed

Your grace received when reconciled

To make us each a newborn child.

Saturday

Every evil without shows a choice made within

Every pain that we have is because of our sin.

Though some who are innocent suffer great pain

Sure, it's sin as the cause, and it's brutally plain.

For God made all good in the Garden so clear

But He gave them free will, so love could appear

For love only happens with freedom of will

Though soon we had faltered, He cared for us still.

He showed us, repentance could right all the wrong

But pain was a consequence tagging along

Each sin is an earthquake destroying of love

And pain is the aftershock sent from above.

Not retaliation, but void left by sin

The only way out is for love to fill in.

Pain follows from emptiness, love fills the void

But love is unknown where self is enjoyed.

A Savior is needed who suffers all pain

Without any thought for His personal gain

Who endures for the masses the pain of all sin

Who suffers and dies for salvation to win.

It's Jesus who did such a deed out of love

The Son of the Father was sent from above

To show us how love is the cure for our pain

And key to how life, we eternally gain.

 

 

9/21/25 Through 9/27/25

 9/21/25 Through 9/27/25

Sunday

Dishonest gain, no gain at all

For grace rejected makes us fall

We see from one who's Full of grace

How we can find True Love's embrace.

His grace is offered every day

But often it is shooed away

In favor of some paltry thing

That very little joy will bring.

Love God and man, a simple rule

But selfish, only prove the fool

For only love can satisfy

And so, to grace, we must reply.

Reply with willing heart and mind

And it's surprising what you'll find

The grace to sacrifice brings joy,

So every grace we must employ.

The grace to help our fellow man

The grace to do whate'er we can

To bring His kingdom here below

So all His peace and joy may know.

Monday

The pagan king could see the light

And made the plans to rebuild right

Because one set his lamp on high

For God alone to glorify

The truth has ways of seeping in

And speaking to a man within

The light we shine may be the key

To bringing wayward souls to Thee

So, be not one who's shy and cold

But rather one who's warm and bold

Then share the light which you receive

And help another to believe

There's none who hide the light will be

Prepared for all eternity

For there alone will all be seen

Without a shadow in between.

Tuesday

Too crowded to see what's important to thee

Too busy for what matters most

The prayer that we need is just done at great speed

And we fail to engage with our Host.

His Mother and brother and sister, you see

Are not just the ones crowded 'round.

The family for He, are the ones who will be

Those acting on all they have found.

So often we hear and we know what is best

But our will is a flexible thing

We focus on flesh more than passing the test

Then nothing but chaos we bring.

Wednesday

Sent out to spread the Gospel news

Not twelve alone did Jesus choose

At first it was to let them see

They needed nothing else but He.

But when He gave His great command

To every man, the order spanned

His Spirit He would give to be

The all we need to set men free.

Thursday

We're never satisfied below

For only passing things we know

The finest food is fleeting sate

The choicest wine thirst can't abate.

No house or car, created thing

Could ever satisfaction bring

The soul was made without an end

And longing to the height ascend

So, build your temple deep within

And then remove all trace of sin

What satisfies and feeds the soul

Is God alone who makes one whole

Friday

Who is Jesus in these days

When pain assaults in many ways?

Who is Jesus in the times

When sleep evades and anguish climbs?

The same today as yesterday

But why He seems so far away?

It's hard for me when all I feel

Is pain that's nagging, sharp, and real.

This tiny cross He shares with me

Is to my shame for all to see

How poor I am at sharing well

The consequences sin can spell

But He is Lord in every way

And love He brings to every day

Lord, let me see beyond the pain

And help me find eternal gain

Saturday

All are afraid to hear of the cross

For all are afraid of their temporal loss

He tells us quite plainly of what must be done

A Sacrifice made of God's only Son

We, too, are afraid to hear of our cross

For there we know well comes removal of dross

By fire that purifies, cleanses of sin

And makes a clean place for our God to dwell in.

We see of His goodness and know of His love

But shy from the path that is leading above

The cross is unpleasant and heavy to bear

But it's only the way that will get us to there.

So, stop your complaining and shoulder the load

Upward the path of the straight, narrow road

For after the cross, what awaits up above

Is eternal goodness of sweetness and love.

Thoughts on NFP

 Thoughts on NFP

No merit comes withholding love

But seeking strength from up above

Our Lord and Savior showed us how

To never to, the selfish bow.

His gift was total and complete

With suffering and shame replete

He kept not even dignity

To show His love's intensity

The cycles move in such a way

To make the weak one push away

To turn his focus back within

And pave the way for selfish sin

But meekness, every man should seek

To be the strong and not the weak

To show the strength of chastity

In varied ways, his bride will see

His love for her is purest gold

No selfishness will she behold

But tender, caring, loving arms

That cherish all her dainty charms.

God made us so, for love we yearn

Within the Sacred Heart, there burn

The flames of perfect love for all

Who answer to His holy call

Those flames can purify the will

And love's great longings vastly fill,

But two must seek that Sacred Heart

And let their focus not depart.

He'll show you when to calm desire

And when again to kindle fire

He always seeks what's best for you

So follow Him in all you do.

The cowardly will turn away

And try to find some other way

To feed the flesh and not the soul

But only Christ can make you whole.

He showed the way upon the Cross

His total gift, not counting loss

But from His death, He rose again

To save the likes of sinful men

So, seek Him with your spouse each day

And follow as He guides your way

His plan for you is always good

When even it involves the wood.